Dear Librarian, In this issue, true crime writer Tori Telfer shares how librarians helped her find the perfect inspiration for her novels, we celebrate the latest winner of the Doris Ann Norris We Love Libraries grant, and explain how you can apply to win the grant for your library. |
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Authors in Libraries by Tori Telfer |
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When I was writing my first book, Lady Killers, I went to the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library to track down some rare and ancient book on the Benders, a family of serial killers in Kansas. The librarian and I started talking (it wasn’t every day that someone checked out that rare and ancient book) and when we ended our conversation, he said, “We’ll have your book here when it comes out.” It was exactly the encouragement I needed. While writing my second book, Confident Women, I used many an online library resource. I scoured historical newspapers through ProQuest, which I accessed through Columbia University’s library, and found all sorts of intriguing things through the website of the New York Public Library—who knew that library websites themselves can be the source of so much information? Through NYPL, I was able to check out ebooks, read the full texts of certain fascinating old pamphlets, and of course, reserve rare books from afar, all of it without leaving my perch at my favorite coffee shop. I also experienced just how valuable it is to befriend a library’s archivist. Hope Dunbar, the Special Collections Archivist at the E. H. Butler Library at Buffalo State, dug up a series of articles for me that literally enabled an entire chapter. I don’t know how I would have accessed those articles without her, and I don’t know how I could have written the chapter without them. I’ve had a fantastic relationship with librarians and libraries for my entire life, from the reference librarian who encouraged me as a teen, to the college librarian who didn’t judge me when I became obsessed with “ironically” checking out romance novels, to the ones who’ve helped me research my books. I think I currently owe my dear local librarians about $50 in fines for books I checked out during the pandemic and then lost (eep!). But I’ll pay it happily—a small and insufficient repayment for what they’ve given me. Tori Telfer is a true crime writer and the host of the podcast Criminal Broads. She lives in New York City. Find her at toritelfer.com. |
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My Heartfelt Thanks to Shari Randall! |
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In recognition of Shari's fine work as Library Liaison, she was asked to choose the We Love Libraries Winner! See below for details. I have worked closely with Shari for two years. She oversaw my role as the We Love Libraries Coordinator. Shari is a lovely, charming person, and she set a wonderful example of true dedication and exemplary service in her role as Library Liaison. I am the incoming Library Liaison. My official start date is October 1st! I am a former rare book librarian and have been the We Love Libraries Coordinator since 2019. I am absolutely thrilled about my new role, and I look forward to being the same kind of avid champion of librarians and libraries as my immediate predecessor! Susan Hammerman, a former rare book librarian, is the coordinator of the We Love Libraries program and incoming Library Liaison. Susan writes crime and neo-noir short stories. Her most recent story, “Remote Storage,” was published in the June issue of Mystery Magazine. |
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Winner of the Doris Ann Norris We Love Libraries $500 Grant: The Public Library of New London, CT |
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Sisters in Crime is pleased to announce that the We Love Libraries grant for this month was given to the Public Library of New London, CT. Our outgoing Library Liaison, Shari Randall, was thrilled to present the grant to Library Director, Madhu Gupta. |
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How Can Your Library Win a “We Love Libraries” Grant? Six times a year, Sisters in Crime distributes a $500 Doris Ann Norris We Love Libraries Grant. Since it’s run as a lottery, it’s the easiest grant you’ll never write! If you have questions, please contact our We Love Libraries Coordinator, Susan Hammerman at WLL@sistersincrime.org. |
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Thank you for all you do for your communities. We love libraries! Happy reading, Shari and Susan Former children’s librarian Shari Randall is the author of the Agatha Award-winning Lobster Shack Mystery series. As Meri Allen, she writes the new Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. The first in series is THE ROCKY ROAD TO RUIN. |
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Sisters in Crime hosts LIVE webinars each month. Webinars last 60-90 minutes depending on the topic and the audience questions! These webinars are open to all. |
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Here's a spreadsheet with our members' 2021 books. This month's releases are in a separate worksheet. Sort the spreadsheet by author name, location, title, or release date. |
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Looking for diverse books? For many years, SINC has curated Frankie’s List, an extensive list of crime novels by people of color and other marginalized groups. Frankie Y. Bailey, building on work by the late Eleanor Taylor Bland, began to compile a list of published Black crime writers over a decade ago. Frankie has expanded the list to include other WOC and LGBTQ+ authors. Here’s a link: https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/FrankiesList |
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Sisters in Crime is the premier crime writing association focused on equity and inclusion in our community and in publishing. Our 4,500+ members enjoy access to tools to help them learn, grow, improve, thrive, and reinvent if necessary. They also gain a community of supportive fellow writers and readers, both peers to share the peaks and valleys of writing, and mentors to model the way forward. |
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